FAQs

A will is the only way to decide who inherits your assets when you die. Without one, the intestacy rules decide for you, and the results can be far from what you'd want: your house and other property may not all pass to your surviving spouse or partner, unmarried partners receive nothing, and your family could pay Inheritance Tax that proper planning would have reduced or avoided.

Yes. Marriage or entering a civil partnership automatically revokes any earlier will unless that will was specifically made in contemplation of the marriage. Many people don't realise this, and it means they can be left without a valid will at exactly the point their circumstances have changed most. If you've married or entered a civil partnership since making your will, you should make a new one.

Review your will every few years and whenever your circumstances change significantly: marriage, divorce, new children or grandchildren, buying property, a substantial change in your finances, or the death of an executor or beneficiary. A will that no longer reflects your life can cause as many problems as having no will at all, so a quick periodic review is worthwhile.

Unlike solicitors, will writers are not legally qualified, are largely unregulated and may not be insured if something goes wrong. We've seen cases where will-writing firms went out of business and the wills they held couldn't be found, leaving estates divided under the intestacy rules against the deceased's clear wishes. A solicitor-drafted will gives you confidence it's legally sound, safely stored and able to withstand challenge.

Yes. A well-structured will is one of the main tools for passing on your estate tax efficiently, making proper use of the available allowances and reliefs, including those for spouses, civil partners and the family home. With Inheritance Tax rules changing, including significant reforms expected in 2027, it's worth reviewing your will and wider estate planning to make sure your family doesn't pay more than necessary.